Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $888 in Surat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $674 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $942 in Surat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $926 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $996 in Surat.

Living in Kolkata (Calcutta) costs roughly 53% less than in Surat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kolkata (Calcutta) 69% lower, Surat 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.26 ₹310

$3.58 ₹341

-8.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 ₹1,112

$11.41 ₹1,087

2.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 ₹473

$3.42 ₹326

45.03%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₹169

$1.74 ₹166

2.30%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₹35.45

$0.40 ₹37.82

-7.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.91

$0.20 ₹19.44

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 ₹170

$3.13 ₹298

-42.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ₹271

$3.95 ₹377

-28.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 ₹64.5

$0.73 ₹69.6

-6.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹37.94

$0.53 ₹50.3

-24.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ₹61.9

$0.67 ₹64.3

-2.99%

Eggs

$1.02 ₹96.9

$1.03 ₹98.0

-0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ₹510

$5.13 ₹489

4.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 ₹270

$3.11 ₹296

-9.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₹231

$1.43 ₹137

69.23%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 ₹76.6

$0.64 ₹61.1

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₹123

$0.95 ₹90.8

35.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 ₹62.7

$0.61 ₹58.1

8.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 ₹38.79

$0.36 ₹34.22

13.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 ₹57.0

$0.44 ₹41.69

36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 ₹42.97

$0.60 ₹56.9

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₹32.00

$0.35 ₹32.92

-2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 ₹373

$3.86 ₹368

1.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.45 ₹805

$7.56 ₹720

11.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₹165

$2.57 ₹245

-32.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₹239

$4.01 ₹382

-37.41%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$7.31 ₹696

$8.42 ₹802

-13.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₹20.90

$0.24 ₹22.86

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$2.93 ₹279

$5.65 ₹538

-48.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 ₹57.4

$0.97 ₹92.7

-38.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹28.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 ₹191

$1.18 ₹113

70.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₹118

$1.13 ₹108

9.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.0K ₹1.5M

$11.6K ₹1.1M

38.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.0K ₹2.2M

$21.5K ₹2.0M

6.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.72 ₹3,974

$38.31 ₹3,649

8.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.84 ₹365

$3.37 ₹321

13.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.12 ₹678

$7.72 ₹736

-7.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.01 ₹1,525

$17.76 ₹1,691

-9.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.45 ₹1,091

$6.74 ₹642

69.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 ₹394

$2.90 ₹276

42.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$43.06 ₹4,102

$48.91 ₹4,659

-11.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,560 ₹148.6K

$1,294 ₹123.2K

20.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.84 ₹2,652

$24.00 ₹2,286

16.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.87 ₹2,846

$24.62 ₹2,345

21.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.50 ₹4,715

$42.46 ₹4,045

16.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.81 ₹3,030

$42.48 ₹4,047

-25.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$157 ₹15.0K

$241 ₹23.0K

-34.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.0 ₹8,386

$557 ₹53.1K

-84.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ₹36.0K

$506 ₹48.2K

-25.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$194 ₹18.5K

$275 ₹26.2K

-29.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 ₹110.9K

$693 ₹66.1K

67.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$588 ₹56.0K

$306 ₹29.2K

92.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$426 ₹40.6K

$327 ₹31.2K

30.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

9.2

7.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kolkata (Calcutta): June 1, 2026

Last update for Surat: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) and $241 in Surat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Kolkata (Calcutta) vs $11.00 in Surat. Groceries flip the comparison at $112 vs $113, with Kolkata (Calcutta) cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kolkata (Calcutta) vs Surat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kolkata (Calcutta) wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Surat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kolkata (Calcutta) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Kolkata (Calcutta) pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $157 in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $241 in Surat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $422 per month in Kolkata (Calcutta) versus $888 in Surat – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kolkata (Calcutta) runs roughly 93% less than in Surat. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Kolkata (Calcutta) gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kolkata (Calcutta) and Surat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kolkata (Calcutta) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Surat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.